Kurd renews independence push

Iraq region’s lawmakers urged to ‘hurry up’ on referendum

By COMPILED BY DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF WIRE REPORTS

Posted: July 4, 2014 at 2:47 a.m.

JABER AL-HELO
Credit: AP
Mourners carry the flag-draped coffin of Iraqi soldier Zidane Ahmed, 29, during his funeral procession Thursday in the Shiite holy city of Najaf. Zidane’s body was found blindfolded and shot several times in Mosul, his family said.

With large parts of Iraq in militant hands, the country's top Kurdish leader called on regional lawmakers Thursday to lay the groundwork for a referendum on independence.